Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Jul 2024

My Department, directly and through the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, provides a range of supports in schools for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This includes additional teachers, specialist equipment and access to SNA support, depending on the child's level of assessed needs.

In Ireland, we have two established schools for the deaf. They are Holy Family School for the Deaf in Dublin and the Midwest School for the Deaf, dedicated to approximately 170 deaf or hard-of-hearing students and catering for children nationwide. Additionally, in the 2023-24 school year there were 25 special classes for deaf or hard-of-hearing children across 14 mainstream schools.

My Department provides funding to the NCSE for supports including 32 visiting teachers in the visiting teacher service. The ISL tuition scheme is available to deaf or hard-of-hearing children from diagnosis to leaving post-primary school. The total funding provided to the ISL tuition scheme in 2023 was €285,000 and 185 children and their families were supported by approximately 75 tutors in the 2023-24 school year. Under my Department’s assistive technology scheme, over 600 children benefited from specialised equipment for the visually and hearing-impaired last year.

There is also a long-standing provision to support children in mainstream settings where ISL is their primary language. The Department sanctions an additional SNA to schools, above their existing allocation, where a school is required to employ an individual with ISL proficiency to provide support. In March 2022, a new scheme for the provision of ISL in-school support for students who are deaf and whose primary means of communication is ISL was announced. Two new posts have been created, an ISL specialist classroom support and an ISL adviser for the deaf or hard of hearing. A recruitment campaign is under way for those additional posts.

My understanding is that deaf and hard-of-hearing children are getting less support than before under the new SET model. Guidelines for 2024-25 allocate virtually all hours to children who are at the lowest levels in standardised tests. This means the Department now interprets educational needs solely on low scores, without reference to ability or potential. Deaf or hard-of-hearing children who have high levels of ability and potential and who may be achieving scores have no possibility of getting additional SET support to help them to reach that potential.

Research shows those children will continue to fall further behind their potential as they progress through the education system due to the absence of additional supports to help them to keep up with their peers. This reinforces the low-expectations culture in the education system for these children. Compared to Britain, where they publish outcomes and there is a significant deficit, our supports generally are much inferior. For example, the visiting teacher service is at 60% of capacity of Britain and few teachers of deaf children in Ireland have a postgraduate qualification in deaf education compared to virtually 100% in Britain.

On visiting teachers, in recent years resource restrictions and associated high caseloads have impacted on the time visiting teachers have per student. However, we are turning a corner in relation to that. For example, the recent deployment of two visiting teachers for the deaf or hard-of-hearing in Dublin has led to a decrease in caseloads in the area of up to 40% in some cases. This allows visiting teachers more time to focus on complex cases in their area. The NCSE is also carrying out a review of caseloads across the country, which will load to more equitable distribution of pupils requiring support.

On SET hours, every school is unique and there is an understanding and appreciation of that. I ask schools to contact the NCSE where they feel they need more SET hours allocated to them. There is a review process in place.

I will pass that on to my colleague, Sorca Clarke. Phase 1 of the scheme for ISL classroom assistants and school advisers was first announced on 2 March 2022 and an implementation plan announced in November 2022. Advocates believe only a fraction of the envisaged 40 posts in phase 1 have been filled to date and the narrow medical criteria are a barrier to many children getting the support they need and discourage families from considering ISL as a communication option for their children.

Can the Minister confirm when phase 2 starts? Is she aware that a number of deaf students are applying to the State Examinations Commission to complete an exam in their first language, namely ISL, in the leaving certificate in 2025? Will she ensure the Department and relevant agencies complete the necessary preparations and arrangements for this to happen?

The two new roles support the work of the class teachers and complement other teaching and care support provided for targeted students. They will play a pivotal role into the future. As the Deputy said, the positions were originally advertised by the NCSE in 2022. However, there was a poor response to the recruitment campaign and only two advisers and specialist classroom support personnel were appointed. A further recruitment campaign is under way.

There is also an undergraduate pilot programme in DCU that enables deaf or hard-of-hearing people who use ISL to enter primary teaching. It is a four-year, full-time honours degree specifically designed for deaf or hard-of-hearing students who communicate through ISL. The students are not required to demonstrate ability in the Irish language.

In relation to the education system, Post-Primary Languages Ireland has developed a specification for a short course in ISL, available as part of the new junior cycle. The leaving certificate applied programme, a two-year programme, provides a course in sign language which develops awareness and appreciation of the Irish deaf community and its culture.

The Department’s voted estimate for capital and current expenditure for 2024 stands at €10.9 billion. This represents an increase of over €2.8 billion or 35% since 2019, which is significant. This is the third largest budget across government, and the largest ever investment in our schools. It indicates the strong commitment to investment in education by this Government.

In the lead-up to the 2025 budget, as Minister for Education I will continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the programme for Government and to support students, staff and families in the education sector. Over the past four years, I have delivered substantial increases in investment in our education system and I remain committed to the vision of a world-class education system for all.

My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants.

The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general upkeep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding, which is provided for general running costs, and ancillary funding, which is provided for caretaking and secretarial services, as a common grant from which the board of management can allocate according to its priorities.

The current standard rate of capitation grant is €183 per pupil in primary schools. Enhanced rates are also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Primary schools also receive an ancillary services grant. The standard rate is €173 per pupil in primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the full capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.

In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding was the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day costs. A further €40 million in funding was delivered earlier this year.

The overall spend is very high, and rightly so, because this is about education, which is fundamental to every person in the country. Focusing on primary schools and national schools, the big problem is that there was a cut to the capitation grant. Basically, that cut has not been restored. Looking at the capitation grant for national schools compared to what is available for secondary schools, there is a big difference. At the end of the day, we are trying to make sure national schools have a proper, clean school that has heat and can actually work in a nice environment. We do not want the current situation in which boards of management are taking money from their reserves to try to fund the day-to-day operations of their school. It is important that this is looked at and that an increase is put into the capitation grant to try to meet the operational costs of the schools.

I appreciate there are challenges right across society and particularly in our schools. In recognition of that, we have seen, as I have outlined, an almost 35% increase being made available to the Department of Education in the budget. We currently have €10.9 billion, which is the third highest allocation across Government Departments. On foot of that, we have seen a considerable increase in capitation grants, as I have already referenced. For example, the standard €183 given per pupil now rises to €200 per pupil in budget 2024. There has been an additional €21 million provided for a permanent restoration of capitation funding. We have also ensured additional funding: €20 million was paid out in 2023 and an additional €40 million was paid out to schools to rely on for their priorities and needs. There are also other initiatives through which we are ensuring that primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils still get the full capitation grant as if they had 60 pupils.

While I appreciate that, I will say again that the funding for primary schools, and their capacity to be able to run the schools, has fallen back seriously based on the capitation grants they have now. Part of that is because inflation has come into being. Heating, electricity and insurance costs have all risen substantially. While I acknowledge there was a one-off payment, schools need a more permanent basis for additional funding rather than one-off payments. It is important for them to know where they are going year in, year out. That is very important. We talk globally about the figures but we need to, with the goodwill of the Department, focus on the primary schools I see and which are coming to me. They are under severe stress trying to deal with the financial constraints they have while also trying to keep their schools up to a standard at which they deserve to be.

I thank Deputy Canney. I appreciate his personal engagement on this matter. In the context of permanent increases, €21 million was secured in the budget. From 2024, that €21 million is ensuring the rate goes from €183 per pupil to €200 per pupil at primary level. That is a significant step forward in terms of a permanent increase in the core. Equally, other than the capitation grant, there are many other sources of support being provided to schools. I am not at all underestimating the challenges they have. Minor works, emergency works and summer work schemes are all paid out. There is a variety of sources of grant support. We equally have a dedicated financial supports services unit, FSSU, which is available to schools if they have particular challenges. I absolutely accept the work of schools is a challenge. From a Department of Education viewpoint, we want to work with schools and ensure the supports are in place, like the FSSU, if they have particular challenges.

The Department’s voted Estimate for capital and current expenditure for 2024 stands at €10.9 billion. This represents an increase of more than €2.8 billion, or 35%, since 2019. As I said previously, this is the third highest allocation to a Government Department. It indicates the commitment of Government to education. In the lead-up to budget 2025, as Minister for Education, I will continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the programme for Government. In the last four years, I have delivered substantial increases in investment in our education system and I remain committed to this vision of a world-class education system for all.

The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants, as I have outlined previously, are capitation grants to cater for day-to-day running and the ancillary grant which caters for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as one single common grant from which the board of management can choose to prioritise. The current standard rate of the capitation grant is €183 per pupil in primary schools and €316 per student in post-primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and ancillary grants as if they had the 60 students in place.

In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding was the first tranche of an additional €60 million in overall funding announced as part of budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered earlier this year.

As part of the capitation package in budget 2024, I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools both now and in the longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools. This will bring the basic rate, as I have already said, to €200 per pupil at primary level and to €345 per pupil at post-primary level. Enhanced rates are also payable to students in special education settings and to Traveller pupils.

We need to have a frank conversation about this. Parents are really struggling every single year when they are bringing their kids to school. What we are seeing now, and what we have seen from the report of the Irish League of Credit Unions this week, is that parents are spending approximately €1,400 per secondary school child and over €1,000 per primary school child. As for the real-life impact this has on parents, nearly half of them are really struggling to manage the costs; almost a quarter of them are trying to earn additional income; and in excess of 60% of parents said that covering the costs of their children going back to school is a financial burden.

There is the parents' side of things and then we also have the side of the schools. We hear repeatedly from schools in our local areas that they are really struggling on the allocation of grants from the Government. Many of the schools are saying the grants are not really enough to keep the lights on, let alone heat the place. We need to think about that. I look forward to looking at the budget coming forward in the next few months. I really hope we can put a massive focus on this area so that we can relieve the burden on schools and parents.

I thank Deputy Farrell. I appreciate it is hugely challenging for parents and for schools. Deputy Farrell specifically referenced parents. The Government has been very cognisant of that. The Deputy will be aware of the myriad of measures we have introduced in this regard. For example, for the benefit of parents, there is the free school books scheme, at a cost of €110 million, under which books and resources are free for children at primary school level. From this September, they will be free for the first three years at post-primary level. We have reduced the cost of school transport. It costs €50 for a primary school child to travel on school transport, €100 for a child at post-primary level and €125 for a family ticket. At this time, it costs the State €1,100 per pupil to do that. Exam fees for both the junior and leaving certificates have been removed. As for DEIS schools, there are additional schemes in which we are providing more than €180 million to support parents.

My Sinn Féin colleagues brought forward the Education (Voluntary Contributions) Bill in 2021. I understand that the Minister did not oppose this Bill, but she has not acted upon it. That Bill would have placed an obligation on schools to make clear to families that contributions are voluntary. It would ensure that no child is stigmatised or denied opportunities because their parents cannot pay the contribution. It would place an obligation on the Department to publish online the total amount collected in voluntary contributions and set out how this money is being spent in each school.

A report from the Catholic Primary School Management Association, CPSMA, in October 2023 said that parental contributions amounted to an estimated €54 million nationally, and that almost half of primary schools surveyed were running deficits, with the averages being from €10,000 to €35,000. There is obviously an issue here. Will the Minister act on the Sinn Féin Bill and facilitate a full and independent analysis of the level and effectiveness of funding?

I will conclude on the initiatives already outlined to support parents. The free school book scheme, the reduced costs for school transport, the removal of exam fees at junior cycle and leaving certificate, the introduction of DEIS supports at a cost of €180 million and the roll-out of the hot school meals scheme are all initiatives to support parents within our schools. We acknowledge that we need to more in this space as we look to budget 2025.

Regarding the schools themselves, I acknowledge that we have made considerable progress but I do not underestimate or take away from the challenges that exist for school leadership. We have increased the capitation. As I have already outlined, we have ensured it has gone from €183 to €200 at primary level and from €316 to €345 at post-primary level. There is also enhanced capitation for our special schools. An addition €60 million has been provided to support schools with the additional costs they may have. The Department has an ongoing review of school income and expenditure in the context of future planning for schools. We will analyse the information we have and we will do what is necessary, particularly in the context of the upcoming budget, to support schools.

I raised this issue during Leaders' Questions in May. Have any steps been taken to amend assault leave entitlements to ensure SNAs have equal provision of health and safety leave and to ensure the incomes of teachers and SNAs are fully protected for the duration of their medically certified leave? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Under section 18 of the Maternity Protection Act 1994, an employee who is pregnant or breastfeeding may be granted maternity health and safety leave from her employment where, following a risk assessment by her employer, a risk has been identified which is not possible to remove from the work environment and where it is not possible to move the employee - an SNA, in this instance - to suitable alternative work. In line with legislation, the Department’s maternity leave circular for SNAs sets out the health and safety leave entitlement that applies to them. It provides that an SNA "will be entitled to full salary for the first 21 days while on health and safety leave". Based on an SNA's PRSI contributions, they may be entitled to health and safety benefit from the Department of Social Protection when their health and safety leave extends beyond 21 days. As the employer, the board of management is legally obliged, as soon as it is notified by an SNA that they are pregnant, to assess any specific risk in the workplace to that SNA and to ensure that the pregnant, post-natal or breastfeeding SNA is not exposed to any agents, processes or working conditions that will damage either the safety or health of the pregnant SNA or that of the developing child or both of them.

Where a risk has been identified and it is not possible to remove it, protective and preventative measures should be taken by the employer to safeguard the health of any SNA to whom these provisions apply. These measures include providing a temporary adjustment in the working environment of the SNA concerned so that exposure to the risk is avoided or, in the event that such adjustment is not possible, moving the SNA to suitable alternative work which does not entail the risk. If such alternative work is not available, and having consulted and received certification from the occupational health service, health and safety leave may be granted to the SNA. Maternity health and safety leave is meant to prevent any injury to a pregnant SNA as a result of an employer-identified risk and is separate to the leave of absence following an assault scheme that the Deputy referred to. Where an SNA is injured as a result of physical contact from a third party causing physical injury-----

SNAs are being denied equal health and safety leave provisions in employment. The potential risks for injury are greater for SNAs due to the physical element of their job. There is a clear disparity between the provision afforded to teachers and that afforded to SNAs. SNAs work with children with a range of care needs, many of whom exhibit extremely challenging behaviour that requires full-time help. I told the Taoiseach about the case of a young woman who has been in the job for a couple of years and is expecting her first child. She loves her job but she has been bitten, kicked and thumped. A few weeks later, she was seriously attacked and has been off work since. She got paid for the first 21 days but she has not been paid since. Like teachers, SNAs play a big part in the development of our children. All they are looking for is fair play. I ask the Minister to work with employers. I think SNAs do a fantastic job and they are not being treated fairly.

I acknowledge the enormously positive work carried out every single day by our SNAs. The Deputy referred to two different types of leave. I have outlined the situation with regard to maternity health and safety leave. For clarity I will reference the second type, which is assault leave. Where an SNA is injured as a result of physical contact from a third party, causing physical injury in the course of their duties and during approved school activities, the SNA may apply for leave under the leave of absence following assault scheme. The provisions of this scheme provide for special leave with pay, subject to specified limits, to be afforded to an SNA who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following an assault that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities. The leave available under the scheme for leave of absence following assault is three months at full pay in a rolling four-year period. In exceptional cases, such as where a significant period of hospitalisation is required or in situations of a second or subsequent incident of assault, the leave may be extended for a further period not exceeding three months at full pay, subject to an overall limit of six months at full pay in a rolling four-year period.

I thank the Minister for her reply. A lot of good work is being done in education. There are a lot more teachers and SNAs. There is a lot of early intervention and children with problems are being diagnosed early. I appreciate the Minister's response but all the SNAs are looking for is the same treatment as teachers. As I have said, they play a very important role in the future development of our children. I ask the Minister to work more closely with the employees to make sure they are being well looked after. I am very happy with the Minister's response. I will go back to the SNAs. To me, being an SNA is a vocation and the work they do is fantastic. I have been in contact with the Minister's office many times seeking extra SNAs and I have never been left wanting. I thank the Minister, but it is important that we do not have a disparity between teachers and SNAs. Hopefully, going forward with the Minister, things will work out well.

I thank the Deputy. I am fully appreciative of the excellent work that is done by teachers, SNAs, school secretaries, caretakers and school leaders every day in our schools. If a member of staff is pregnant, under no circumstances would we want them to be challenged in any way in the school environment. Therefore, we have the health and safety aspect of it and, equally, the Deputy referenced assault leave. Under no circumstances do we want assaults to happen in our schools. There is a body of work under way to support schools in this regard. Notwithstanding that, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform determines the terms and conditions of leave schemes for public servants, including teachers and SNAs. In this regard, the limits imposed in the assault leave circular for teachers were agreed with the education partners in conjunction with the Department. An SNA who has exhausted the maximum period of paid leave under the scheme-----

We have been pleading with the Department for a long time for an answer for the students who are requesting a bus from Bantry to Schull Community College. Thirty-one children need this bus service. Will the Minister announce today that this bus service will be made available, giving relief to parents and children from the Bantry area?

The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023-24 school year more than 161,600 children, including 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post-primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02 million.

At present, pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest primary school, as determined by the Department and Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. At post-primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest post-primary school or education centre, as determined by the Department and Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language are deemed eligible.

There has been a significant overall increase year-on-year in school transport applications and tickets issued. In the 2018-19 school year, the total number of children availing of primary, post-primary and special educational needs transport was just over 117,800. In comparison, the number of children availing of school transport for the 2023-24 year has increased to over 161,600 which is an increase of 37%.

As part of budget measures for 2024, the Government announced an additional €50 million for school transport which will allow continued investment for children to access the school transport scheme. The increased investment on the scheme is due in the main to the cost of running it and making it available to more students.

Alongside this €50 million in funding for investment in the overall scheme, a further €42 million was provided as part of the cost-of-living measures announced in Budget 2024. This funding will be used to assist families with the costs of education and reduced fees will continue to apply on school transport for the 2024-25 academic year.

All funding for the school transport scheme for 2024 will be derived from core and current funding. Any requirement for supplementary funding for 2024 will be sought using the agreed Supplementary Estimates process.

I thank the Minister for her reply but I did not get a reply. The question I asked was will there be a bus service provided for 31 children from Bantry to Schull Community College. The Minister has bamboozled me there with figures but I did not get a reply to the question I asked. I do not know how much time there is but I would really appreciate it if she would concentrate on that when she answers me the next time.

We are in here every day of the week speaking about climate action. Surely the first step is to put on enough school transport so that we do not have parents and grandparents traipsing all over the county trying to get their kids to and from school when there should be a bus available. We are talking about 24 km here every day and 31 children. You could be talking about 21 cars back and forth in and out of Schull from Bantry every day of the week. That is an outrageous situation. I am not here pleading for one child – I would if I had to – but I am talking about 31 children. I would really appreciate if the Minister would concentrate fully on giving me a straight answer. Is this service going to be provided by the Department or not?

The Deputy will appreciate that the scheme is managed on behalf of the Department of Education by Bus Éireann. He will appreciate that there is a criteria of eligibility for the scheme, namely students who live 3.2 km from the nearest primary school or 4.8 km at post-primary, from their nearest or next nearest school. That is the criteria as laid down. The Deputy will be aware that more than 163,000 young people have benefitted and are benefitting from that scheme and benefitted last year from it and no doubt even more will benefit from it in the 2024-25 school year. At present, the applications of all those who have applied and have paid on time are being adjudicated as to whether they meet the existing criteria which as I have outlined for the Deputy, or 4.8 km at post-primary which is what the Deputy specifically referred to, from their nearest or next nearest school. If they meet that criteria and a route is in place, then they will be eligible.

There are many other areas about school transport I could remind the Minister of. We have requested a larger bus or two mini buses for students in Larchfield going to Clonakilty. There are also issues in Rath National School and Laragh National School. There are lots of issues out there in relation to transport for children going to school. There are other issues such as Clogagh National School which is looking for construction of a classroom. Those are issues on which I could concentrate. However, there are 31 children who need a transport service from Bantry to Schull. I think I submitted this question on Friday so the Minister’s Department has had plenty of time to look and give a straight answer. She is not even mentioning the words Bantry to Schull in her answer. She is talking about the general rules that are laid out. Is the service going to be made available? I am asking a straight-up question: Yes or No? There is surely no greater thing to ask. Will there be a school bus service this September to give relief to the parents from Bantry who want their children to go to Schull Community College?

For absolute clarity, in the question the Deputy submitted he made no reference to any of the schools he referred to when he took to the floor. In fact, he simply asked if there was to be increased funding made available to run the Bus Éireann service. Let us be absolutely clear about what he sought information on and what he has now asked for on the floor of the Dáil. Those are two very separate things. I endeavoured to answer the question that he put on paper and he required me to answer. I have done that. Over the last number of years, we have increased substantially the funding available to run the school transport scheme. No doubt we will do likewise in budget 2025. We have a very ambitious plan to ensure that there will be 100,000 additional young people availing of the bus service. Again, I would say that there is clear criteria at this time. If students meet that criteria and a route is in place, they will be deemed eligible. If they do not meet the criteria they will not be eligible.

We are running two new types of pilots which will do away with the distance criteria and reduce it to 2 km and which will remove the criteria of the nearest or next nearest school. Those pilots will inform how we move forward.